Melting pot



July 7, 1931. J. H. PETTUS MELTING POT Filed May 9, 1928 /vL/ENTUR Jose-PH hf PErrus By/ ATTORNEY Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEFH H. PETTUS, OF PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORY TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MELTING POT Application led May 9, 1928.

This invention relates to melting pots and particularly to a portable pot for melting Wax and other materials.

In connection with the installation of cables in telephone exchanges, it is desirable to impregnate the cable ends in beeswax not only to improve their insulatingr properties but also to prevent the insulation from fraying. In cases where the cables terminate at distributing frames space is at a premium and consequently there is very little distance between adjacentverticals of the frame in which to perform the impregnating process. It is therefore the general practice in such cases to melt the wax in a large pot andy convey the melted waX in a small container to the place where the cables to `be dipped terminate. This practice is objectionable in that the wax very often becomes unduly chilled before the cables are impregnated therein and more or less of the wax is spilled thereby endangering surrounding apparatus and sometimes causing dangerous burns to the workers.

Furthermore there -is danger from the pot in which the waX is melted becoming overheated thereby resulting in an appreciable fire hazard.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable wax pot which is of such a size that it can be used about the distributing frames for waxing the cable ends, and which can be handled without danger of spilling or burning.

To attain this object and in accordance with a feature of the invention there is provided a melting pot vcomprising a double wall chamber through the inner chamber of which a heating element is inserted for melting the wax. This heating element is surrounded by an air tight tube securely fastened to the inner or wax chamber of the device and which is in turn surrounded by, but spaced a short distance from a second tube which serves as a percolator tube thereby forming a vent for the melted wax and obviating the danger of eruptions or yexplosions when the device is set in operation.

' In accordance with another feature of the invention the device is of such a size and so balanced that :it een be. easily 'manipulated in.

Serial No. 276,239.

use. Furthermore the outer casing is maintained comparatively cool since it is separated from the heating chamber by an air space.

These and other features of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wax pot in accordance with this invention with a portion of the outer casing removed to more clearly showvthe construction details;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wax pot of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view; and

Fig, 4 is a detailed view showing the percolator tube surrounding the inner tube and heater unit.

)referring to the drawings this wax pot comprises an outer casing or jacket 5 of rectangular cross-section within which is located and spaced therefrom an inner pot 6 in which the wax or other material is placed. A lange 7 is securely welded to the pot 6 as shown and is of such dimensions as to tit over the top of casing 5 and thereby provide a cover for the casing and at the same time insure a suitable air space between the two containers. Securely riveted to the inner bottom wall of pot 6 and registering with an opening therein is a reentrant tube 8 closed at the top and adapted to receive the heater element 9 which is preferably of a replaceable type.

It has been found that in order to most efliciently melt the entire body of wax without unnecessarily heating the outer jacket, the heating element should be so arranged that the heat is generated chieliy in the lower portion of the body of wax. The heater elementf9 which is therefore positioned in the lower part of pot 6 is inserted from below and is provided with terminals 10, 10 which are suitably connected to jack 11 which is in turn adapted to receive plug 12 equipped with flexible cord 13 and plug 14 by means of which the heater element may be connected to the current supply. The outer or percolator tube 15 is provided with a supporting member 16 which rests on the bottom of pot 6 and the upper portion is maintained in position by means of the screw 17. This tube is preferably of such size as to provide a separat-ion of approximately 1/8 from the inner tube 8. It is open at the lower end and also is provided with an opening 18 near the lower end and a number of openings 19, 19 at the extreme upper end so that when molten waX is placed -within the pot 6 the space between tubes 8 and 15 is filled with wax. Tlube 15 is preferably folded from a blank of sheet stock and spot welded at intervals along one edge in such a way as to give rigidity to the tube but also to provide a. series of openings 30, 30 which permit the free entrance of wax between the spots where welded and the resulting circulation of molten wax in the percolator tube. This same result may also be obtained by providing a series of perforations in tube 15 at intervals along its length.

A stud 20 is welded to the bottom piece of pot 6 and projects through a perforation at the bottom of container 5 to which it is fastened by means of nut 21, thus holding pot 6 and container 5 securely together. The pot 6 is provided with a. cover 22 which is hinged at 23 and equipped with knob 24 and the upper edges are'formed over a wire 25, preferably about #11 B. & S. gauge, thereby presenting smooth rounded surfaces and vpreventing cutting or injury to the cables.

For handling this device there is provided a loosely Wound coil handle 26, the bails of which are formed in a manner as shown so that the extreme width of the handle is no greater than the width of the container 5. YA rigid handle 'also provided Vwith a loosely wound wire portion 28 is secured to container 5 in such a manner that when this handle is grasped the thumb is in a natural position to grasp handle V26 the device then being in a balanced condition and easy to manipulate. A rigid handle 29 is also provided at the lower portion of container 5 to facilitate handling.

When wax is placed in the pot 6 and is melted a certain amount of the material flows into the space between tubes 8 and 15 filling such space up to the level of the wax in the pot and remaining therein as the pot is allowed to cool. Upon reheating t-he pot by connectingthe heater 9 to a source of current supply the wax in the space between the two tubes melts first and as it expands it rises in the percolator tube and flows out through the openings 19, 19, the tube thus forming a vent for the molten wax and gas and thereby preventing any explosions orV violent eruptions on the top surface of the still solid wax. The openings in tube 15 along its length permit the wax immediately surrounding the tube to circulate through the tube and thus facilitate the melting of the entire body of wax without any portion being overheated.

Y The embodiment of the invention described has been found to be of particular advantage in telephone exchanges for use in waxing cables since because of its `compactness, cool exterior -and portability it can be used satisfactorily where the available space is very limited. It is however obvious that the invention is also applicable where portathe wax is placed, a heating element posi-'1 ytioned within said container, and means surrounding said element and spaced therefrom for preventing eruptions on the surface of said wax when heat is generated by said element.

2. A device for melting wax and other materials comprising a container within which.y

the wax 1s placed, a heating element, andmeans comprising a pair of concentric tubes so arranged as to form a vent to permit the escape of gas and the circulation of melted wax during such time asthe surface of the wax is still solid. v. v

3. A device for melting Wax and other'materials comprising a container within which the wax is placed, a heatingelement,ametallic tube surrounding said heater and extending.

above the normal level of the wax to a point near the top of said container, and a second tube surrounding but spaced from said first tube, said secondv tube being open at the top and bottom. f

4. A device for melting wax and other materials comprising a container within which the wax is placed a heating element positioned within said container, a metallic tube surrounding said heating elementv and having its upper end closed, and a second ltube surrounding but spaced from said` first tube, said second tube having a series of openings extending from the bottom to the top thereof.

5. A device for melting wax and other materials comprising a container adapted to receive the wax to be melted, a heatin element, an airtight reentrant tube exten ing into said container and adapted to receive the heating element and a second tube surrounding but spaced from saidfirst tube and having a series of openings throughout its length to permit the free circulation of molten wax. 6. A device for melting wax and other materials comprising a container adapted to receive the wax to be melted, a heating element, a reentrant tube closed at the upper end extending from the'bottom of said container and adapted to receive the heating element and a jacket surrounding the greater portion of said container and Vseparated therefrom by an air chamber.

7. A device for melting wax and other materials comprising a container within which the material to be melted is placed, a Ine-v tallic tube secured to the bottom of said container, said tube having its upper end closed and its lower end registering with a perforation in the bottom of said container, a replaceable heating element adapted to be inserted Within said tube, a tube surrounding said first tube and spaced therefrom, said second tube being open at the lower end and elevated slightly above the bottom of the container and having openings in the upper end above the normal level at Which Wax is maintained in the container.

8. A device for melting Wax and other material comprising a container Within which the Wax to be melted is placed, a heating element positioned Within said container a flange rigidly secured to said container and a jacket cooperating With the flange of said container to provide an air space immediately surrounding said container, and means for holding said container and jacket rigidly together.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my namethis 7th day of May, 1928.

JOSEPH H. PETTUS. 

